News of the Second Shinobi World War

The resemblance was uncanny. The person before him looked far too much like Tetsuya back then.

If he hadn't sensed absolutely no chakra from the person before him, he might have thought this really was Tetsuya.

After all, once Tetsuya had first developed chakra, he had been the one to teach him the Clone Technique.

"Are you that fellow Tetsuya's son?"

Tetsuya nodded. Passing himself off as his own son wasn't all that hard to accept.

"Tch, and I thought we were brothers. He didn't even invite me to his wedding, and now his kid's already this big."

Sakuya looked both envious and a little annoyed.

They had agreed to stay bachelors together back then, yet now that fellow's kid was already so grown up. He really couldn't keep his word.

"Your name is Ryo, right?"

"Yes, I'm Chiba Ryo. White hair, a Jonin vest... Oh, I know! You're Mr. Hatake Sakuya, right? My father said you were an incredible Ninja. I just didn't expect you to look so much..."

"Older than you imagined?"

Sakuya burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, that's only natural. After all, I'm a few years older than that fellow Tetsuya. How is he doing? I haven't seen him in years."

"He's doing well. He's just getting older and doesn't like traveling much anymore, so I came back to Konoha alone this time."

"Honestly, that fellow..."

Sakuya spoke with a wistful sigh.

"When he was young, he traveled all over the Land of Fire with me to open branch shops. Who would've thought he'd become too lazy to even make the trip back to Konoha?"

"He's a businessman, after all. My father has spent years entertaining clients, eating and drinking. His health isn't what it was when he was young. Not like you, Mr. Sakuya—you're still as spry as ever."

"Hahaha, kid, you've got a smoother tongue than Tetsuya ever did."

Sakuya laughed heartily.

"But I'm not as spry as I used to be either. I'll work another couple of years, then retire. Going home to drink tea and tend the plants sounds pretty nice. Maybe I'll even have time to visit the Capital City and have a drink with that fellow Tetsuya."

"That sounds wonderful. I'm sure my father would be delighted to have you visit."

"Is that so? Then tell him to wait for me when you get back."

"Mr. Sakuya!"

While the two were chatting, several young Ninjas ran toward Sakuya. From the look of them, they were probably all Chunin.

"All right, young Ryo, no more chatting. As you can see, I've got a mission to head out on."

Seeing the lineup of one Jonin leading several Chunin, Tetsuya couldn't help feeling curious.

"With so many people, are you leading a B-Rank Mission, Mr. Sakuya?"

Sakuya smiled rather proudly.

"Wrong, young Ryo. It's an A-Rank Mission. The Land of Fire's borders have been getting more and more unsettled these past few years.

"Well, according to the Ninja code, I can't tell you anything more. See you."

With that, Hatake Sakuya waved to Tetsuya and led his squad toward the village gates.

Watching them leave, Tetsuya sank into thought.

Are the Land of Fire's borders becoming unstable?

He carefully worked out the timing.

Oh, the twenty years of peace are nearly over! That means the Second Shinobi World War is about to begin. Have the militant factions in the villages already started gaining influence?

With that thought, Tetsuya started walking back.

It seemed he had returned too early. The little hothead's kidnapping happened after the Second Shinobi World War.

The Second Shinobi World War is about to begin. Is there anything I can take advantage of?

During his few days in Konoha, Tetsuya had largely kept out of sight. Aside from Teuchi's family and Sakuya, who had left on a mission, few people knew he was there.

As far as Tetsuya was concerned, there wasn't really anyone else in Konoha he wanted to see.

To Tetsuya, Sakumo Hatake was simply Sakuya's younger brother. The two of them had never been particularly close.

The Sannin were merely former customers of his. Their paths hadn't crossed all that much.

Or rather, Orochimaru was the only one of the Sannin with whom he had a somewhat closer relationship.

Still, if Orochimaru saw him as he was now, he might well want to drag him away and slice him up for research.

After all, Orochimaru had always pursued the true nature of life. What would he think upon seeing a being like him, who neither aged nor died?

It's about time I headed back. Kakuzu has probably been waiting for me for days.

After packing his things, Tetsuya prepared to leave Konoha.

"Sir, the carriage is ready."

The driver called from outside the door. A carriage was parked on the street outside the house.

Traveling by carriage in Konoha these days certainly made an impression. Ordinary people couldn't afford to buy one, and even hiring one cost a considerable sum.

Generally, only members of shinobi clans traveled by carriage.

As the carriage rolled down the street, it drew plenty of onlookers.

"Teacher, look! A carriage! It's even drawn by two horses. Is it someone from one of the village's shinobi clans?"

A ten-year-old Ninja boy tugged at his rather pale-skinned teacher and pointed at the carriage slowly heading out of the village.

Orochimaru patted Nawaki's head and said,

"It doesn't look like it. There isn't a shinobi clan crest on the carriage. It probably belongs to some wealthy merchant."

The mention of a wealthy merchant reminded Orochimaru of a shopkeeper he knew.

He still remembered studying ninjutsu under his teacher back then. After each day's grueling training, his greatest pleasure had been going to eat a bowl of Mr. Chiba's ramen.

And Mr. Chiba had been unlike other merchants. He liked to innovate, and trying the new ramen flavors he developed had been one of Orochimaru's greatest pleasures.

As though sensing something, Tetsuya drew back the curtain at the rear of the carriage and looked outside.

Orochimaru caught sight of the familiar face that appeared in the carriage window.

His pupils trembled.

How is this possible? After all these years, how could Mr. Chiba still look like a young man? Could this be one of his descendants rather than Mr. Chiba himself?

At that moment, Tetsuya also spotted Orochimaru and Nawaki on the street.

Is that Orochimaru? He's grown up, though he doesn't look as sinister as he does in the anime yet.

Who's that boy beside him? They seem so close. Could he be Orochimaru's student, Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki?

Looks like it.

Orochimaru stared at Tetsuya, who smiled back, nodded, and drew the curtain closed.

It's him. It has to be Mr. Chiba. He recognized me.

But why hasn't he aged after all these years?

"Teacher? What's wrong?"

Nawaki's call snapped Orochimaru out of his thoughts.

"Haha, nothing. I just saw someone I knew."

Coming back to his senses, Orochimaru smiled, but his gaze remained fixed on the retreating carriage.